CLA “lifespan”?

[Les Sarile]

I have always worked on the principle of "leave well alone", I don't believe that cameras like cars need regular servicing.

Not even lube and oil change or am I just missing the sarcasm?

 

[reddesert]

In a device like a camera that operates to relatively tight tolerances but under small loads (load on bearing surfaces), more lube is frequently worse than less lube. A camera/lens is more likely to be rendered inoperative by eg oil on the aperture blades making them stick, than by wear out of bearing surfaces as in a bicycle or car. I cringe whenever someone posts about randomly taking a camera/lens apart and "lubing" it, especially if that means shooting WD-40 into the shutter.

50 years on, dried up lubricant can be a problem requiring cleaning. But if your camera needs cleaning every couple of years, stop getting it dirty.

Ritual CLA makes sense for some objects:
- cameras in professional use shooting tens of thousands of frames per year in all conditions
- older cameras that are likely to need maintenance to soft parts (eg a 70 year old Leica that needs shutter curtain service)

 

[wiltw]

I never routinely had any camera get a CLA on a regular interval, and I have generally had film cameras that I still have even today.

I think I sent a camera for CLA only once, more for checking its meter accuracy than for lubrication...it those days I didn't have multiple cameras and handheld meters to compare against.

Back in the film days, folks sent cameras in for winterizing if they anticipated shooting under extremely cold conditions. Otherwise not, unless there were some malfunction that needed fixing.

I had a teenager's lust for the Beseler Topcon Super D, as it was made of Unobtainium as the top of the line rivaling the Nikon F. Fast forward 55 years, and I now own about four Super D bodies and a Topcon D-1. When acquired, I ran film thru all of them to test shutter and aperture and meter. While some meters no longer functioned, ALL had accurate shutters at the variety of tested shutter speeds I put them thru. I rather doubt all of them had rountine CLA in their history!

 

[Billy Axeman]

@benjiboy said: "I have always worked on the principle of "leave well alone", I don't believe that cameras like cars need regular servicing."

@Horatio said: "I tend to follow the old maxim, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Honestly I can’t recall why I had the Nikon serviced."

@RLangham said: "Well, that's a shame because lots of cameras really will last longer with CLA's, a fact which is based on an empirical understanding of how machines work over tine. It's your investment that you're getting less return on than you could, so it's up to you, but I think a lot of seasoned photographers are going to find your opinion laughable."

The weak point in old cameras are its lubricants. They dry out when aging or even get sticky and parts suffer more wear, and more force is needed to move them around, and eventually some functions will fail. When you wait until a camera stops working properly, you are too late with a CLA because parts have worn down. So it is advisable to CLA at an early moment, with the extra advantage that the old type of grease and oil are replaced by modern synthetic ones that last long and are highly efficient.

 

[runswithsizzers]

There seems to be an underlying assumption here that a CLA is some kind of standardized procedure. But I suspect the definition of "CLA" is whatever the person doing the work wants it to be.

Over a period of 20 years, I worked as a mechanic in half a dozen different bicycle shops. Every one of the shops I worked for offered a "Complete Overhaul" - but what work was actually done to the customer's bicycle varied quite a bit from shop to shop. And even within a given shop, each mechanic had a somewhat different opinion about how "complete" the work should be. Finally, the definition of a Complete Overhaul had to vary somewhat depending on the particular make and model of bicycle. For example, it was possible to dissassemble some high end bicycle pedals for cleaning and lubricating the bearings - but many bicycle pedals cannot be taken apart for proper servicing.

Later, when I started working in hospital laboratories, I encountered Procedure Manuals that described exactly what was expected of the technologist when doing each laboratory test. Furthermore, there were multiple quality control processes to help insure that the techs were properly trained and were actually following the written procedures and producing reliable results. I never saw anything like that in the bicycle repair business.

I don't know, but I would guess camera service centers are more often run like bicycle repair shops than clinical laboratories. If that's true, then the benefit of a CLA is going to vary considerably depending on the make and model of the camera as well as the ability, training, and experience of the particular person doing the work.

 

[RLangham]

There seems to be an underlying assumption here that a CLA is some kind of standardized procedure. But I suspect the definition of "CLA" is whatever the person doing the work wants it to be.

Over a period of 20 years, I worked as a mechanic in half a dozen different bicycle shops. Every one of the shops I worked for offered a "Complete Overhaul" - but what work was actually done to the customer's bicycle varied quite a bit from shop to shop. And even within a given shop, each mechanic had a somewhat different opinion about how "complete" the work should be. Finally, the definition of a Complete Overhaul had to vary somewhat depending on the particular make and model of bicycle. For example, it was possible to dissassemble some high end bicycle pedals for cleaning and lubricating the bearings - but many bicycle pedals cannot be taken apart for proper servicing.

Later, when I started working in hospital laboratories, I encountered Procedure Manuals that described exactly what was expected of the technologist when doing each laboratory test. Furthermore, there were multiple quality control processes to help insure that the techs were properly trained and were actually following the written procedures and producing reliable results. I never saw anything like that in the bicycle repair business.

I don't know, but I would guess camera service centers are more often run like bicycle repair shops than clinical laboratories. If that's true, then the benefit of a CLA is going to vary considerably depending on the make and model of the camera as well as the ability, training, and experience of the particular person doing the work.

Which is why reputation is of the greatest importance in choosing a repairman, just like you wouldn't let just anyone work on your new luxury car or perform surgery on your dog.

The only repair person in my town is over 90 years old and has begun refusing all but the most rudimentary works. She even lent her books to me and has yet to ask for them back. I would probably trust her to CLA my camera 20 or 30 years ago, but I don't think I would now. Use it or lose it, that's my thinking.

I am looking for someone qualified to open my Olympus OM-2n and put the string for the leading curtain back on the pulley so the shutter will travel correctly. I wouldn't trust myself, I wouldn't trust Ms. Georgia, but I would trust an established amateur or professional repairperson, considering that the actual repair is simple enough.

 

[Autonerd]

I’m sure the length of time varies with camera model and frequency of use. What’s your experience? I had one done on my Nikon F about 30 years ago and it still seems ok, but it’s rarely been used.

My 1975-ish Pentax KX (formerly my grandfather's) hasn't had a CLA ever. Still seems to work fine. For my birthday, I'm sending it out for service. Hopefully it'll go another 45 years.

Aaron

 

[Sirius Glass]

CLAs include shutter adjustments. I can't believe that there are people here who complain that a leaf shutter set to 1/500 second is only 1/350 second at best [Not true] but will not have their cameras CLAed.

 

[BrianShaw]

I can’t believe there are people who claim ANYTHING without having supporting data, especially shutter speeds!

 

[Les Sarile]

I am looking for someone qualified to open my Olympus OM-2n and put the string for the leading curtain back on the pulley so the shutter will travel correctly. I wouldn't trust myself, I wouldn't trust Ms. Georgia, but I would trust an established amateur or professional repairperson, considering that the actual repair is simple enough.

In the US for all things OM there is John Hermanson at http://www.zuiko.com/
He restored my Pen FT to fully functional condition and made it so I can use current batteries too.

 

[Steve Roberts]

My 1975-ish Pentax KX (formerly my grandfather's) hasn't had a CLA ever. Still seems to work fine. For my birthday, I'm sending it out for service. Hopefully it'll go another 45 years.
Aaron

Ah the KX! IMHO and all things considered, the best 35mm SLR that Pentax ever made... but that's another discussion!
I've had three KXs, one I bought in 1986 and another (because I liked the first so much) the following year. I've had each of them serviced twice over that period, but though my regular repair man back then was happy to do the work (and take my money!) he said that there were things that were worth doing and things that weren't and acted accordingly. His knowledge was born of experience and I was always very happy with the results. Since he retired I've not found anyone as good and these days do my own repairs with the exception of my solitary Leica which is currently on its hols with Malcolm Taylor.
My third (black) KX appeared on ePay, advertised with a couple of faults that were easily fixed but otherwise gleaming. I just couldn't resist it!
Steve

 

[CMoore]

Absolutely not! I don’t think any of us thought we would still be using these cameras- the latest and greatest was always just around the corner. Weren’t we all programmed to want the next generation? I do remember a shop I passed almost every day when I was in high school- an authorized Contax (rangefinder) and Rolleiflex Service Center. What that meant to me was that they were professional tools, meant to be serviced, not tossed, when they needed service. Little did I realize that the lowly Pentax I was using at the time was extremely well made and deserving of proper service as well. Now that I have repurchased one I happily send it off for it's service.

Thank You.
I was going to write this, but you did it for me.

 

[RLangham]

In the US for all things OM there is John Hermanson at http://www.zuiko.com/
He restored my Pen FT to fully functional condition and made it so I can use current batteries too.

His quote was very expensive. I don't understand how he can charge more to do that than for a whole CLA, which should involve much of the same disassembly plus much more labor after disassembly. Also he insisted that I had "tampered" with the camera (I have not) and that will surely make the price go up. He quoted me 140 as a baseline and was frankly a little brusque. I'm more apt to sell it for parts honestly. Anyone want it? The lenses are good.

 

[MattKing]

Any time you partially disassemble a camera before sending it to a repair tech you are almost certain to be quoted a higher amount, and likely to end up paying more.
Many repair techs will refuse to work on cameras that have been opened up before hand by customers.

 

[RLangham]

Any time you partially disassemble a camera before sending it to a repair tech you are almost certain to be quoted a higher amount, and likely to end up paying more.
Many repair techs will refuse to work on cameras that have been opened up before hand by customers.

Good thing I didn't do that lol. The shutter problem is plainly visible from the outside with the back door open.

 

[MultiFormat Shooter]

I am looking for someone qualified to open my Olympus OM-2n and put the string for the leading curtain back on the pulley so the shutter will travel correctly.

I would call Mike at Phototronic. He's done some work for me, and was nice to talk with, and had reasonable prices.